Ship anchors and stowage



Feb. 13, 1968 HT DOVE 3,368,513

SHIP ANCHORS AND STOWAGE Filed Aug. 15, 1966 s Sheets-Sheet 1- M, yaw c.

lnvenlor A ttorney;

Feb. 13, .1968

Filed Aug. 15, 1966 H. L. DOVE SHIP ANCHORS AND- STOWAGE @jzz) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Kyla.

Inventor Attorney;

Feb. 13, 1968 DOVE 3,368,513

SHIP ANCHORS AND STOWAGE Filed Aug. 15, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ag MM A ttorneys United States Patent 3,368,513 SHIP ANCHORS AND STOWAGE Herbert Leslie Dove, Fareham, England, assignor to National Research Development Corporation, London, England, a British corporation Filed Aug. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 572,529 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Aug. 19, 1965, 35,702/65 3 Claims. (Cl. 114-210) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to improvements in ship anchors and stowage. There are occasions when it is not convenient or practical to fit a ships bower anchor at the conventional stowage position, which is on the ships side at the forecastle, and in consequence there is a requirement for a new conception of anchor operation.

The object of the present invention is to provide anchors which are so shaped that they are stable when dragged and are capable of developing a good holding pull and which may be stowed snugly within the ships hull.

In order that the present invention may be more fully understood reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation showing the general arrangement of the anchor together with its associated guide ball;

FIG. 2 is another view of the guide ball at right angles to that shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation of the crown of the anchor with the cover plate removed;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation at the inner edge of the fluke of the anchor;

FIG. 5(a) is a vertical elevation of the anchor shank and integral hinge pin;

FIG. 5(b) is a further vertical elevation of the anchor shank and integral hinge pin at right angles to that shown in FIG. 5(a);

FIGS. 6(a), (b) and (c) are a side elevation, plan and end elevation respectively of the combined limit stop and hinge pin retainer; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional elevation of the anchor stowage showing the anchor in the stowed position.

Referring to the drawings, in which the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout, the anchor as shown comprises a shank a having an anchor shackle b at one end and at the other end hinge pin 0 on which are pivoted a pair of flukes d.

In the anchor shown each fluke d is of trapezoid plan shape with the leading ends of the flukes diverging from the shank. Thus the fluke tips f are widely spaced and on hard ground, before penetration, support the anchor at either side well beyond its centre of gravity giving good stability against lateral tilting and consequent upsetting. The flukes may be made hollow to allow the most advantageous distribution of material and so provide maximum holding pull for a given weight. The flukes are faired into and integral with the crown e, which is in the form of a V in section, as shown in FIG. 4, and extend laterally ice and rearwardly to form stabilising surfaces acting against rotation. The flukes are shaped at a point above the crown to provide end bearings for the hinge pin 0, these being suitably faired into the flukes to offer minimum resistances to burials. Assembly of the anchor is effected by the fitting of a hinge pin retainer g, shown in detail in FIGS 6(a), (b) and (c) which is secured by a securing pin h. An abutment i on the hinge pin retainer co-operates with shaped surfaces It on the shank (shown in FIG. 5 (b), to provide a limit stop for the fluke angle. The crown of the anchor e which, when the anchor is stowed, forms a closure to the stowage aperture is semi-circular in plan at its ends, as shown in FIG. 3, so that the stowage aperture is least likely to provide weakness in the shell plating of the ship. The shape of the crown in section assists in tripping the flukes and, therefore, in the quick burial of the anchor. The back of the crown is closed by a cover plate I which may be so shaped that when the anchor is stowed there is no projection from the natural fairness of the hull plating.

When the anchor is assembled, the hinge pin axis is arranged relative to the crown and the flukes such that when the anchor is lifted at the main shackle (weighed) the flukes hang vertically, i.e., parallel to the shank. Thus the aperture in the shell plating of the hull for the entry of the anchor into the stowage is kept to a minimum. In order to ensure that the anchor enters the aperture correctly a guide ball m is fitted to the cable, immediately above the main shackle of the anchor. This guide ball is fitted with a shaped pin 11, which, when the anchor approaches the stowage engages on one or the other of two cam shaped surfaces 0 (FIG. 7) which guide the pin into one or the other of a pair of channels q in the hawse pipe p, thus ensuring that the anchor is guided into its stowage in one of two possible positions at degrees to one another. Within the stowage suitable guide and pad plates are fitted to prevent undue movement of the anchor at sea. In a preferred form of anchor, according to the present invention, for maximum efficiency the aspect ratio of the anchor, given by the plan projected area of one fluke and associated stabilising surface portion together (as measured when the shank and said fluke are aligned) divided by the square of the fluke length from crown to tip, is of the order of 0.3.

I claim:

1. An improvement in anchor and stowage apparatus wherein the anchor comprises a hinged stockless fluke anchor and the stowing apparatus comprises an aperture in the ships hull and a ships hawse pipe located within said aperture,

said improvement comprising first guide means fitted to the anchor cable,

second guide means associated with the anchor stowage aperture, said second means adapted to cooperate with said first means to facilitate entry of the anchor therein when the anchor is weighed, and

a cover plate fixed to the crown of said anchor, said cover plate being shaped so that there is no projection from the natural fairness of the hull plating when said anchor is stowed.

2. An improvement in anchor and stowage apparatus wherein the anchor comprises a hinged stockless fluke anchor and the stowing apparatus comprises an aperture in the ships hull and a ships hawse pipe located within said aperture, said improvement comprising:

a guide ball fitted to the anchor cable,

a shaped pin attached to said guide ball and adapted to engage with either of two cam shaped surfaces at the end of said ships hawse pipe located within said anchor stowage aperture whereby said pin is guided into either of two channels in said hawse pipe to 3 ensure alignment of said anchor with said stowage aperture to facilitate entry of said anchor therein when said anchor is weighed, and

a cover plate fixed to the crown of said anchor, said cover plate being shaped so that there is no projection from the natural fairness of the hull plating when said anchor is stowed.

3. An improved anchor and stowage comprising a hinged stockless fluke anchor having the fluke faces extending rearwardly and laterally into stabilising surfaces in which the aspect ratio of the anchor, given by the plan projected area of one fluke and associated stabilising portion together, as measured when the shank and said fluke are aligned, divided by the square of the fluke length from crown to tip is of the order of 0.3, a guide ball fitted to the anchor cable, a shaped pin attached to said guide ball and adapted to engage with either of two cam shaped surfaces at the end of the ships hawse pipe located within the anchor stowage aperture whereby said pin is guided 4- into either of two channels in said hawse pipe to ensure alignment of said anchor with said stowage aperture to facilitate entry of said anchor therein when said anchor is weighed, the crown of the anchor forming a closure to the stowage aperture when the anchor is stowed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,640,672 8/1927 Schauman 144-2l0 2,928,366 3/1960 Mallrnan 144-2l0 3,186,373 6/1963 Whitney l14210 3,292,565 12/1966 Goodwin 114-208 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Examiner.

T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

